[Cdt-l] Gentle Reminder

[Helen]

I know others have got their panties in a ruffle over this idea.   But, again, I have to say that the idea of hikers each picking a small section of the CDT and helping to keep the trail marked is a great idea.  The goal would be to move to more permanent markers iver time.  Coordination would be a big  key. ... But a wiki site could do it.  

I recently wrote my Congress persons about supporting various environmental/ wilderness bills .., support for the scenic trails is part of one.   Only one of them said they would consider supporting such bills.  

The government isnt always going to allocate money to parks , preserves, and trails.   ESP if it is a area or trail that is not used as much as others.

Lynne's point that making the trail more accessible so that more people use it is valid.  Underuse leads to neglect...  Why would the government continue to give any money if only a tiny tiny fraction of people use the trail?

Just my quick 2 cents 

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 19, 2012, at 1:26 AM, "lynne whelden" <lwgear at juno.com> wrote:

> Amazing! My suggestion, my gentle reminder, my floating of an opinion has now managed to "offend" two CDT hikers. Count 'em.
> Once the CDTA disappeared and now the trail's maintenance is left to hikers (and the government), what happens? The hikers start shooting each other. Where's the peace and love that supposedly exists out on the trail? 
> I'll explain the analogy again, since its meaning got lost in the cross-fire. Of the 3 major trails, the CDT, due to its rustic and generally un-blazed nature, gets only a handful of hardened hikers each year. It gets 1% compared to the other trails.
> The 99% are those who either elect to do the blazed trails or they stay around home and just walk locally.
> My concern--I'm sorry if you can't relate--has been for those 99% and how to coax them to try out the CDT. Towns along the trail would certainly benefit. It would take pressure off the other trails. 
> How might this happen? 
> It's not going to be through some media blitz. I think it could happen because it becomes a trail one can follow without getting lost every day. Remember, tape is temporary, tape is temporary, tape is temporary.
> This is only my opinion. Comments are always welcome. Without an organization to take the lead, or a handful of visionary hikers, nothing will happen.
> 
> ____________________________________________________________
> The New &#34;Skinny&#34; Fruit
> How This Strange 62-Cent African Fruit Is Making Americans Skinny.
> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4f668b7cdef102265b0est05vuc
> _______________________________________________
> Cdt-l mailing list
> Cdt-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/cdt-l